Proposition NN
BALLOT LANGUAGE
WHAT IT MEANS
Yes
No
ARGUMENTS FOR AND AGAINST
Yes
"When kids have passionate, qualified teachers in the classroom, they achieve more. Right now, Colorado’s public schools are chronically underfunded by $4,600 per student annually. Colorado ranks 43rd in the country in school funding. This means overcrowded classrooms as passionate and qualified educators leave the profession. Many never become teachers in the first place. Ultimately, Colorado kids pay the price.
Why is Colorado underfunding education so severely? The state’s TABOR revenue cap, first set in 1992, is holding Colorado back from investing needed resources into classrooms – even when it has already collected the tax revenue to do so. Meanwhile, the state’s population, economy, and student needs continue to grow, leaving our schools unable to keep up.
Proposition NN will give schools the resources they need to make sure Colorado students can succeed, putting billions of dollars into our public schools for better teacher pay, more one-on-one attention, and career training." - Yes for Colorado Kids
“Vote yes on Prop NN to raise Colorado’s outdated revenue cap and allow the state to invest the revenue it already collects in K–12 public education without raising taxes. For more than 30 years, this cap has limited how much Colorado can invest in public schools, contributing to larger class sizes, educator shortages, and fewer resources for students.
What Prop NN does
- It raises the cap on that artificial spending limit on K-12 public education. This is our chance to finally free up the funds that are already supposed to be supporting our students.
- It is limited to K-12 only and cannot be used for anything else. Cutting the ropes means more educators in classrooms, smaller class sizes, stronger special education services, and more mental health providers.
- It ensures every dollar is publicly audited each year so voters know where the money goes." - Colorado Education Association
"The measure would offer a targeted solution to address ongoing budget challenges that force lawmakers to continually cut services as the costs of those services continue to rise faster than inflation. This addresses that challenge and it does so in a way that guarantees that K-12 is the primary beneficiary of this. It has the potential to be one of the most transformative measures for K-12 funding in a long time.” - Jeff Bridges, State Senator
No
“Proposition NN is a piece of Colorado legislation passed by the state legislature in early 2026. The bill contains provisions that could significantly affect Colorado families, local communities, and public services. If passed, this measure would greatly increase the TABOR spending cap and eliminate annual TABOR refunds forever.
Analyses show the average taxpayer could lose over $7,000 in cumulative TABOR refunds over the next 10 years. These are real dollars returned to families via checks, income tax rate reductions, or credits — money families control for housing, groceries, energy, childcare, and savings.
Proposition NN is a deceptive power grab that erodes voter-approved fiscal restraints, steals direct refunds from families, and prioritizes government spending over household affordability." - Your Family's Future Alliance
“This measure would permanently increase the TABOR revenue limit and change its underlying formula, with retained revenue directed to K-12 education and child-related programs in the first ten years, and any other purpose in subsequent years; in other words, a blank check.
Most school districts are not subject to the TABOR limit at the local level, school enrollment is declining, and per-pupil funding is at all-time highs.
Meanwhile, TABOR remains popular in Colorado because voters understand that unrestricted government growth comes at the expense of the economy, and that taxpayers know how to spend their money better than government officials.
If passed, billions of dollars that would otherwise be returned to taxpayers will be taken out of the economy, ending TABOR refunds for the foreseeable future, exacerbating volatility in the state’s already unsustainable budget, and weakening the economy.” - Independence Institute
“The ballot initiative would essentially be asking voters to hand over their money with no real guarantee it will actually go to what they’re being told it will go to. It is a multi-billion dollar spending spree built on assumptions, continuous failed budgeting, and blind faith in those that have shown time and time again that they cannot handle money of any amount.” - Rebecca Keltie, State Representative
ENDORSEMENTS
Yes
Colorado AFL-CIO (Liberal)
One Colorado (Liberal)
Conservation Colorado (Liberal)
Colorado Working Families Party (Liberal)
Colorado Education Association (Liberal)
No
Colorado Chamber of Commerce (Other)
Byron Pelton (Conservative)
Brandi Bradley (Conservative)
Independence Institute (Conservative)
Rebecca Keltie (Conservative)
FINANCIAL BACKING
The following information provides insight into the money being spent to pass or defeat the ballot measure.
Yes
COLORADO PROPOSITION NN, TABOR REVENUE CAP INCREASE FOR K-12 EDUCATION MEASURE (2026)
This question is on the ballot in Colorado as a legislatively referred state statute on November 3, 2026. As of September 18, 2026, the committees formed to support Colorado Proposition NN, TABOR Revenue Cap Increase for K-12 Education Measure (2026) are:
Selected contributions to: "Yes for Colorado Kids" include:
- Colorado Fund for Children & Public Education
- Gary Advocacy LLC
- District 12 Educators Assoc
- Boulder Valley Education Assoc
- St Vrain Valley Education Assoc
- Cherry Creek Education Assoc
- Peublo Education Assoc
- Littleton Education Assoc
No
COLORADO PROPOSITION NN, TABOR REVENUE CAP INCREASE FOR K-12 EDUCATION MEASURE (2026)
This question is on the ballot in Colorado as a legislatively referred state statute on November 3, 2026. As of September 18, 2026, the committees formed to oppose Colorado Proposition NN, TABOR Revenue Cap Increase for K-12 Education Measure (2026) are:
Selected contributions to: "Brighter Colorado" include:
- Common Sense America
- Advance Colorado
- Richard McCormick
Selected contributions to: "Affordable Colorado" include:
As of September 18, 2026, there are no contributions to report.
Selected contributions to: "Let’s Go Colorado" include:
As of September 18, 2026, there are no contributions to report.
Selected contributions to: "No On 87, Yes On 136" include:
As of September 18, 2026, there are no contributions to report.
Selected contributions to: "Don’t Price Us Out" include:
As of September 18, 2026, there are no contributions to report.
OTHER INFORMATION
